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SEEING SILVER RED HOT ASIAN ART +A FABLED TREASURE HUNT CATHERINE D. ANSPON DOES THE RECAP. PHOTOGRAPHY DANIEL ORTIZ. YBAS PLUS ASIA GOES POP Talk about a backdrop. The Chaney Collection at collector Jereann Chaney's Memorial-area home was the jaw-dropping mise en scène for a record-setting fund- raiser that brought the girls out — in this case, the most philanthropic dames in Houston, alongside august art patronesses and upcoming young swans. The setting was worthy of the occasion: the 25th anniversary of fall's most important fête for the femmes, Another Great Night in November, benefitting Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. A Gilbert & George wall piece looked down from the balcony, while massive Pop-inflected sculptures made a bold statement at the entry. How often do you step through a portal to be greeted by a nine-foot-tall Takashi Murakami fiberglass figure of Mr. Pointy? Or clink cocktails near towering Chen Wenling sculptures depicting a man astride a bucking boar and a crimson-colored muscled- up wrestler? It was a picture-perfect reflection of the Chaney's "Red Hot" collection, last exhibited in a blockbuster of the same name in 2007 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (which held its big-pocketed male-driven bookend to this party, One Great Night in November, the same evening). END GAME All together, this opulent art + social tradition bowed to 25 years of CAMH's Another Great Night evenings. (The first, the idea of Cornelia Long, was held at the home of Anne Brent in 1990; but it wasn't until 1993, hosted by Cornelia Long, that the treasure hunt came into being.) A Fare Extraordinaire devised this year's epicurean seated dinner of tomato tart, sea bass and crème fraiche cheesecake, all served under a grandly decorated glade surrounding the Chaney's front lawn. Rebekah Johnson did her decor magic, pulling from design motifs from previous AGN evenings, including paper-pendent lanterns, and a silver color scheme (for 25 years). Some 260 patrons made the ultimate art statement, raising more than a $250,000 — almost $1,000 per guest, or $10,000 per every year of the party — to make this storied night the second-highest Another Great Night ever. IT WAS ANOTHER REALLY GREAT NIGHT FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM HOUSTON. ILLUSTRIOUS LADIES Now back to the leading ladies of this legendary evening, led by hostess and patron supreme Jereann Chaney, whose understated demeanor is in reverse proportion to the size of her largesse and her knowledge about contemporary art. (She also serves as CAMH board president.) Joining the collector were chairs Katharine Barthelme (whose late mother, Marion Barthelme Fort, was remembered as a woman of arts and letters, as well as past AGN host) and sisters Kate Criner Bellin and Annie Criner Eifler. Their mom, Susie Criner, was the night's appropriate honoree; she co-chaired the CAMH Gala that commemorated the museum's 65th anniversary a few years ago. As is customary, CAMH director Bill Arning popped by during the cocktail segment to make a PA, while senior curator Valerie Cassel Oliver reigned as the official museum representative for the evening. GEM PALACE Another beguiling component was contributed by famille Zadok, stylishly represented by Amy Zadok, Lisa Zadok, and Michelle Zadok. Stepping up as Another Great Night's luxury retail sponsor, Zadok Master Jewelers supplied the fabulous party favors from India-based bauble creator Sutra Jewels and bestowed dramatic sliced- diamond pendants and sliced- ruby earrings upon co-chairs, hostess and honoree. No guests went home empty handed, for in honor of the 25th, each received a $250 Zadok gift card. But most sumptuous of all were the one-of-a-kind, red-carpet-worthy Sutra pendants — combinations of diamonds, sapphires, ruby slices, blue topaz and more — that went to the winning coterie of art-smart talents who garnered the treasure hunt's top score. DAMES OF THE ROUND TABLE That top table knew the answers to questions ranging from contemporary Asian art to jewelry and Hollywood and sports memorabilia, such as a query about a pair of Shaquille O'Neal's giant shoes that feature in the host's collection. Here are the art Mensas who you want at your table next year: Henrietta Alexander, Cristiana Anderson, Gisela Cherches, gallerist Kerry Inman, art adviser Julie Kinzelman, Betty Newton, Judy Nyquist, Lea Weingarten, Ann Wilde, and Geraldina Wise. APRIL | PAGE 10 | 2016 Amanda Morrow Calia Pettigrew Sara Beck Megan McIntyre Nancy Douthey Sarah Balinskas Sally Edmundson Valerie Cassel Oliver Kristen Nix Kelly Barnhart Megan Lawrence Katie Barnhart Madeleine Hussey Beth Wolff Marty Finger Leigh Smith Kelley Lubanko Mady Kades Morgan Garvey Allie Fields Lisa Zadok Amy Zadok Michelle Zadok Melissa Strong Lynn Wyatt Chairman Kate Criner Bellin Honoree Susie Criner Chairman Annie Criner Eifler Chairman Katharine Barthelme Elizabeth Satel Young Emily Church Judy Nyquist Ann Wilde Host Jereann Chaney Erica Levit Blakely Griggs Bill Arning Blair Golden Lilly Golden Brittany Rose Monica Bickers Chris Goins Patricia Smith Julie Kinzelman Jessica Phifer The winning table Marita Fairbanks Sissy Kempner Mary Van Pelt Christina Stith